“I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken… even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood. That the speaking profits me, beyond any other effect. My silences had not protected me. Your silence will not protect you.” – Audre Lorde
Dear Fellow Warrior,
I am fully aware of the reasons… why I gradually lost support and care, both on here and offline, particularly from the ‘neoliberal haven’ of D.C.
I know after living in DC for 15+ years and seeing it from my very own eyes, how the liberal elite culture often centers image, careerism, and institutional loyalty over actual justice, solidarity, or truth-telling.
D.C. is dominated by policy think tanks, NGOs, consultants, federal contractors, and lobbyists…many of whom advance equity-sounding language while still operating within oppressive, bureaucratic systems of militarism, austerity, and corporate power.
I could have ideologically insulated myself to fit in here. I found myself trying at times. I naturally did not fit in, and nor did I have to. There were times I accepted being used as a token, but then saw that I was not valued beyond that… But one thing I didn’t realize until much later, that there was such little tolerance for other viewpoints among Democrats and liberals.
But as I have stated before, I’m not going to silence myself just to be “liked” or “validated” by certain people. Especially not by those who still believe it’s okay to vote for or advocate on behalf of parties and candidates who commit horrific atrocities and war crimes across the globe…especially against children.
People often don’t speak up because they think they don’t have a platform, or they want to protect the little one they do have. But everyone has a platform.
Your silence is a form of speech.
Your disengagement from others because of their choice to speak is also a position.
What will always shock me is how the very people who agree with me, who know I’m right, still chose not to stand beside me, knowing that I always write, always speak, and have always used my platform to advocate against social injustice and against harmful stigmas. And you know I do this. And you watch me, and have supported me in the past.
I had always advocated for Palestine even when it wasn’t “popular” to do so.
Many people stopped engaging with other parts of my life altogether.
If you distanced yourself from me because of my “politics,” which are inseparable from my values and my identity, … or even my vulnerability, honesty, and authenticity, it is really important for you to know that this is cowardice.
And, it is understandable why I would be shocked how people in your own corner see that you are not being socially validated by visibility metrics, so you must suddenly no longer be worthy of love and support and care of any sort. I am shocked because I believed you were better than that.
It is easy to feel paralyzed in moments like this. But I’ve come to understand that paralysis is often the result of such betrayal.
And still I choose to continue to speak, and write, and post, because silence never protected the oppressed and has never given me peace.
It might be naive of me to assume that my words will be read. But these words can serve more than one purpose.
You may not like my voice. But I will not stand to be punished for using it.
Solidarity, Peace, Warmth, and Blessings,
Dr. Elsa, Warrior KQueen
“She wasn’t looking for a Knight. She was looking for a Sword.” – Atticus
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